Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Ridding the-world-of-evil-farce
In May 2003, following protests from human rights groups regarding the British army's use of cluster bombs in and around the Iraqi city of Basra, British officials had nothing but unabashed rationalization as a response.
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram justified the use of cluster bombs, in an interview with BBC radio, on military grounds, arguing: "Cluster bombs are not illegal. They are effective weapons. They are used in specific circumstances where there is a threat to our troops."
Those "specific circumstances", according to British media, compelled the dropping of 2,000 Israeli-made cluster bombs on Basra and its surroundings in April 2003 alone. Richard Lloyd, Director of Landmine Action, asserted that he had seen maps - provided to the UN by the US military - showing cities that were almost completely masked by a heap of symbols indicating where cluster bombs had been used. "These weapons were used in and around virtually every built-up area where there was major fighting," Lloyd said.
London Bombings Barbaric, But Not Unexpected - by RAMZY BAROUD - on Counterpunch ¶ Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram justified the use of cluster bombs, in an interview with BBC radio, on military grounds, arguing: "Cluster bombs are not illegal. They are effective weapons. They are used in specific circumstances where there is a threat to our troops."
Those "specific circumstances", according to British media, compelled the dropping of 2,000 Israeli-made cluster bombs on Basra and its surroundings in April 2003 alone. Richard Lloyd, Director of Landmine Action, asserted that he had seen maps - provided to the UN by the US military - showing cities that were almost completely masked by a heap of symbols indicating where cluster bombs had been used. "These weapons were used in and around virtually every built-up area where there was major fighting," Lloyd said.
London Bombings Barbaric, But Not Unexpected - by RAMZY BAROUD - on Counterpunch ¶ Tuesday, July 26, 2005
